DELIVERED SEPTEMBER 2026 Webbs Prize Cob Hazel Nut Tree

Webb’s Prize Cob Tree/Bush

Webb’s Prize Cob is a traditional English cobnut/hazelnut tree grown for large edible nuts, reliable crops, rich flavour, long storage and good disease resistance. ^{[1] [2] [3]} This means it is a great tree/bush for nut lovers that like to squirrel away their nuts, just don't do what they do and forget where you hid them in the house.

It is also known as the Lambert Filbert and is one of the best-known old English cobnuts. ^{[2] [4]}

The tree produces hanging brown and yellow catkins in late winter to early spring, followed by clusters of large, rounded edible nuts in autumn. The nuts are usually picked in September, often around late September when the husks begin to turn yellow. ^{[1] [5]}

Webb’s Prize Cob nuts can be eaten green as fresh cobnuts or left to ripen fully. They are useful for fresh eating and kitchen use, and once dried and stored properly, they can keep for several months. ^{[5] [6]}

Webb’s Prize Cob is partially self-fertile, so it should crop on its own, but it crops much better with a different compatible hazel nearby. The best pollination partners are Cosford and Hall’s Giant. Wild hazel growing nearby may also help. Nottingham Prolific/ Pearson’s Prolific is another option where available. ^{[1] [2] [5]}

For good pollination, plant compatible hazel trees within about 15m of each other. If planting a group, 5m spacing is a practical guide. ^[5]

Expect a mature height and spread of around 2.5–4m, depending on site, growing conditions and pruning. ^[1]

Planting Webb’s Prize Cob

Plant Webb’s Prize Cob in sun or light shade. For the best nut production, choose light, sandy, well-drained soil where possible. ^{[1] [5]} Avoid heavy, wet clay and very acidic soils for optimal results.

Before planting, water the pot well. Dig a generous planting hole, loosen the surrounding soil, and plant the tree at the same depth it was growing in the pot. Firm the soil gently around the roots and water thoroughly after planting.

Keep the tree watered during dry spells while it establishes, especially in the first growing season.

For nut production, Webb’s Prize Cob is best grown as an open, goblet-shaped bush. Keep the base clear of grass and weeds, ideally with a clear circle of about 60cm around the trunk. ^[5]

Hardy down to minus 20 degrees centigrade.

Other Interesting Information About Webb’s Prize Cob

Webb’s Prize Cob has a better backstory than most garden hazels. It was first recorded in 1872 as Webb’s Prize Cob Filbert in The Gardener’s Chronicle and is linked with Richard Webb, a hazelnut breeder at Calcot Garden near Reading. ^{[8] [9]}

That makes it properly Victorian. Webb’s Prize Cob was first recorded in the same year Britain introduced the secret voting ballot at elections, the Licensing Act started regulating pubs, and Scotland and England kicked off international football with a 0–0 draw. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

Richard Webb was not a one-cobnut wonder. Historical hazelnut collection sources link him with several other hazelnut cultivars, including Webb’s Garibaldi, Multiflora, Princess Royal, Daviana, The Shah and Cannon Ball. ^[9]

Modern hazelnut genetics research still credits Richard Webb of Reading as the source of important cultivars, including Cosford, Daviana, Garibaldi, Empress Eugenia and Princess Royal. ^[13]

Webb’s Prize Cob has also been included in proper hazelnut research, not just nursery catalogues. One cultivar nutrition study found Webb’s Prize Cob had notably high dietary fibre compared with other tested hazelnuts. ^[14]

Fruit Tree Life Expectancy
Most fruit trees will give you AT LEAST 40 years of fruit. Pears can go to 70. Records of 200 year old trees exist but this is the exception, not the rule.

Do I Need To Stake My Bare Root Fruit Tree?
Most of the time, the answer will be no, especially if under 200cm tall. However our article on Tree Staking should help guide you.

Planting In The Corner Of A Garden
Air and light is reduced in this location which could promote fungus and bacterial issues. Corners of houses and fences can also suffer leeching issues so we advise against it.